Glandular fever, Epstein-Barr virus and hypoglossal nerve palsy

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a γ-herpesvirus that infects over 90% of the human population worldwide. It is usually transmitted between individuals in saliva, and establishes replicative infection within the oropharynx as well as life-long latent infection of B cells. Primary EBV infection generally occurs during early childhood and is asymptomatic. If delayed until adolescence or later, it can be associated with the clinical syndrome of infectious mononucleosis (also known as glandular fever or ‘mono%rsquo;), an illness characterised by fevers, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy and malaise. EBV infection is also associated with the development of EBV-associated lymphoid or epithelial cell malignancies in a small proportion of individuals. This review focuses on primary EBV infection in individuals suffering from infectious mononucleosis. It discusses the mechanism by which EBV establishes infection within its human host and the primary immune response that it elicits. It describes the spectrum of clinical disease that can accompany primary infection and summarises studies that are leading to the development of a vaccine designed to prevent infectious mononucleosis.

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Facial nerve palsy secondary to Epstein–Barr virus infection of the middle ear in pediatric population may be more common than we think

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift ◽

10.1007/s00508-017-1259-y ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 129 (21-22) ◽

pp. 844-847 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Katarina Vogelnik ◽

Aleš Matos

Keyword(s):

Virus Infection ◽

Facial Nerve ◽

Epstein Barr Virus ◽

Nerve Palsy ◽

Facial Nerve Palsy ◽

Pediatric Population ◽

Epstein Barr Virus Infection ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Epstein Barr ◽

Barr Virus Infection

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Corticosteroid therapy in glandular fever

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin ◽

10.1136/dtb.7.8.31 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 31-32

Keyword(s):

Virus Infection ◽

Corticosteroid Therapy ◽

Infectious Mononucleosis ◽

Epstein Barr Virus ◽

Indirect Evidence ◽

Specific Response ◽

Specific Antibodies ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Glandular Fever ◽

Epstein Barr

The cause of glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) is unknown but is widely-believed to be viral. This belief is supported only by indirect evidence such as exclusion of other infective agents, failure to respond to antibiotics, and the recent discovery1 2 that during an attack of glandular fever patients develop specific antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus. But repeated attempts to isolate a virus, and to infect volunteers have all failed, and this failure raises the possibility that glandular fever may be a non-specific response to a variety of agents, or an exaggerated lymphoid response to a virus infection.

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Glandular fever and Epstein-Barr virus-related polyneuropathy: a life-threatening complication

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2020-235678 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. e235678

Author(s):

Colm Brendan Dorris ◽

Donna Gallagher ◽

Myles Black

Keyword(s):

Epstein Barr Virus ◽

Upper Airway ◽

Surgical Tracheostomy ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Glandular Fever ◽

Life Threatening ◽

History Of ◽

Life Threatening Complication ◽

Epstein Barr ◽

Multiple Cranial Nerve

An 18-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of sore throat, lethargy and fevers. She was subsequently diagnosed with glandular fever and was managed conservatively. Following 1 week of conservative measures, she developed acute upper airway obstruction requiring emergency surgical tracheostomy insertion. Further investigation including electromyography demonstrated multiple cranial nerve neuropathies.

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